The Korea Herald

지나쌤

S. Korea to join multilateral Red Flag-Alaska air drills this month

By Yonhap

Published : June 1, 2023 - 19:39

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A KC-330 tanker transport plane departs from an air base in Seosan, 97 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Wednesday to participate in the Red Flag-Alaska exercise. (Air Force) A KC-330 tanker transport plane departs from an air base in Seosan, 97 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Wednesday to participate in the Red Flag-Alaska exercise. (Air Force)

South Korea will participate in a multilateral air drill in Alaska led by the US Pacific Air Forces this month, officials said Thursday.

The country will send 180 officers, along with six KF-16 jets, two C-130 carriers, and a KC-330 tanker transport aircraft to the Red Flag-Alaska exercise, according to the Air Force.

The drill, aimed at improving the troops' interoperability, will take place at the U.S. Air Force's Elmendorf and Eielson bases in Alaska from Monday to June 23.

The training entails various maneuvers, including those for air-to-air and air-to-ground, as well as air interdiction and cargo drop missions with U.S. and Japanese aircraft.

Launched in 1976, the Red Flag-Alaska exercise has been mainly intended to give pilots from the US and other allies an opportunity to practice and refine their skills for real combat situations. South Korea first joined the drill in 2013. (Yonhap)